AT three minutes past three, maybe Sir Alex Ferguson was beginning to take sprint king Usain Bolt’s plea for a game in a Manchester United shirt seriously.
The fastest man on earth had brought the Old Trafford house down with his introduction complete with iconic pose. When prompted for a few words, the Jamaican replied:
“You guys need to encourage Sir Alex to sign me.”
When Fulham, who had lost their last nine league and cup games here, snatched the lead following a start of Bolt proportions, suddenly the idea of the 100 and 200 metres double Olympic champion joining the club didn’t seem such a crazy idea.
An injury-hit defence, Wayne Rooney relegated to the bench and all this coming on the back of United’s bad hair day at Everton on Monday night when they felt the full force of Marouane Fellaini, ripples of apprehension could be felt amongst some Red Devils fans.
Was the empire crumbling? Not when you’ve just imported a £24million striker with 30 Premier League goals from last season in his locker.
 You guys need to encourage Sir Alex to sign me  |
| Usain Bolt |
Twelve months ago Robin van Persie suffered one of the most embarrassing afternoons of his career – being part of the Arsenal side humiliated in a crushing 8-2 defeat on the same ground.
Now he was facing more potential crimson-faced grief as Fulham began where they had left off seven days earlier against Norwich.
Barely had the clamour caused by Bolt’s presence died down than Martin Jol’s side, imbued with confidence from the 5-0 win beside the Thames, were in the lead.
Bryan Ruiz slid a free-kick on the edge of the United area to Damien Duff who directed it low and with pinpoint accuracy past David de Gea. The Irishman might have announced his international retirement but clearly his Premier League days aren’t over yet.
Neither are United’s powers of recovery – a natural part of their DNA. And so it proved as United refused to panic and Van Persie announced his presence on his home debut with a sublime strike which would have resonated all the way to the Emirates.
Patrice Evra crossed and Van Persie barely paused before a wonderful and instinctive connection sailed beyond Mark Schwarzer.
The confidence which had momentarily drained from United bodies following Fulham’s electric start was now back and coursing through eager veins.
None more so than Japanese livewire Shinji Kagawa whose inventive passing allied to a frenetic work rate is going to be one of the features of this new campaign.
He was soon celebrating his first Premier League goal since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund. Van Persie swung in a corner which was headed clear but only as far as Tom Cleverley. It was returned with interest by the newly-capped England man and when Schwarzer failed to hold onto the fierce effort Kagawa pounced.
Rafael had a goal disallowed for a correct offside decision but couldn’t be denied when Ashley Young chipped neatly to the far post and the Brazilian climbed above Mladen Petric to head in.
In days gone by when Fulham came calling that would have been it but with players of the quality of Spurs target Mahamadou Diarra and Bryan Ruiz, the Londoners don’t lie down.
De Gea deflected a strike from Petric onto the bar and Ruiz put the rebound over the woodwork before they were back in the game.
Nemanja Vidic was unfortunate to see a cross from Matthew Briggs bobble over the line off the back of his heel after De Gea, Petric and Vidic all challenged for the ball.
There were more scary moments for United and Bolt who was also joined in the stand by British long jump gold medallist Greg Rutherford, another Reds fan. De Gea tipped away an effort from Moussa Dembele and a prod by Petric, while deep into added time the Spaniard had to be alert to Hugo Rodallega’s strike.
By then Rooney, who had been summoned off the bench, had departed on a stretcher with a gashed knee after coming into contact with Rodallega’s boots.
A reminder to Bolt that it’s not all glamour being a footballer.Ref: K Friend. Att: 75,352Man UTD: De Gea; Rafael, Vidic, Carrick, Evra; Anderson (Giggs 81), Cleverley; Valencia, Kagawa (Rooney 68), Young (Welbeck 68); Van Persie.
Fulham: Schwarzer; Riether, Hangeland, Hughes, Briggs; Duff, Diarra (Baird 82), Dembele, Kacaniklic (Sidwell 63); Ruiz; Petric (Rodallega 72).
Referee: K. Friend.
Att: 75,352
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